Top 15 Dog-friendly Destinations
You can take your best pal with you on these getaways around the West.
Orcas Island, WA
Play: After (on-leash) hiking in Turtleback Mountain Preserve (sjclandbank.org), swimming the cool waters of North Beach (orcasislandchamber.com), and romping in Eastsound's off-leash dog park (orcasdogpark.org), your pup will learn to love the sight of the island ferry (dogs ride free; wsdot.wa.gov).
Stay: West Beach Resort ($18 per night pet fee; westbeachresort.com) has cabins on a ½-mile dog- and family-friendly beach.
Build your dog its own vacation home
Seattle, WA
Eat: Restaurants don't get more dog-centered than the casual joint Norm's Eatery & Ale House. Servers skillfully maneuver around four-legged guests, and dogs dine on burgers and sip Bowser Beer while their humans go for cheeseburgers and sliders. There are rules here--for example, dogs aren't supposed to get up on the furniture. But the dogs don't always pay attention. 460 N. 36th St.; (206) 547-1417.
Walla Walla, WA
Play: At funky, dog-friendly Dunham Cellars (dunhamcellars.com), a favorite wine is named for a dog: The "Three Legged Red" ($19) is a meaty red blend. ($5 tasting fee).
Stay: Crash comfortably at downtown's Marcus Whitman Hotel ($30 per night pet fee; marcuswhitmanhotel.com).
Portland, OR
Eat: Dogs are almost required on the patios of Lucky Labrador Brewing Co.'s four rustic brewpubs (N.W., S.E., S.W., and North Portland). Your dog can munch on dog treats while you sip canine-themed craft beers such as Winter Wonder Dog and Dog Day IPA. luckylab.com.
One perfect day in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood
Lincoln City, OR
Play: The 7.5 miles of beach at Lincoln City have a firm leash law, but bring your hound with you to hunt for a souvenir glass float from local glassblowing studios; volunteers hide the baubles above the tide line. oregoncoast.org.
Stay: The Looking Glass Inn has a dog run with its own fire hydrant. From $114; dogs $15/night; lookingglass-inn.com.
Make your own dog-friendly garden at home
Eat: Tiki's at 51st. 1005 S.W. 51st St.; 541/996-4200.
One perfect day in Lincoln City
Mendocino, CA
Play: Many local parks, restaurants, and other businesses go way beyond merely allowing dogs. They welcome them, and their canine quirks, openly.
This is why there are so many dog-friendly beach towns on the rocky, rugged coast--there's so much for a dog to do, and relatively little trouble to get into. The beach is, simply, nature's coolest playground, even if you never go in more than ankle deep.
Rent a canoe or kayak from Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too ($40/day; catchacanoe.com) and explore the Big River estuary.
Eat: Head to Mendocino's little New England-esque downtown, to Mendo Burgers and eat at the picnic tables (10483 Lansing St.; 707/937-1111). The fish is fresh and juicy, the fries hand-cut.
San Francisco, CA
Play: Humans soak up iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline while dogs romp on a sandy beach and splash in the bay at Crissy Field. There's an adjacent grassy area with picnic tables (leash required), and the Warming Hut has lattes and snacks. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is proposing new on- and off-leash restrictions, but for now the doggie coast is clear. parksconservancy.org.
St. Helena, CA
Eat and Play: The Napa Valley stalwart V. Sattui Winery produces some excellent wines--Sunset Magazine honored its 2009 "Paradiso" in a 2013 competition. But it's also highly canine-friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed inside the tasting room; outside, dogs are welcome to join their people for a picnic on the lawns, which are open to the public seven days a week and surrounded by hedges and a fence to keep pups safe. Tasting from $10; vsattui.com.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Stay: Probably the most famous dog-friendly hotel in the country, the Cypress Inn is co-owned by actress and animal activist Doris Day. And even without its pet pedigree, it's an appealing Mediterranean-style inn dating to 1929. Dog highlights include the weekday afternoon Yappy Hour at Terry's Lounge, where dogs join their guardians for meals and drinks. You can also take your dog for an off-leash romp at nearby Carmel Beach. Rooms from $195, dog services from $30, Terry's Lounge; cypress-inn.com.
Morro Bay, CA
Play: Head to the northern strip of Morro Strand State Beach. State 1 at Yerba Buena St.; parks.ca.gov.
Stay: Beach Bungalow Inn & Suites. From $159, including breakfast; dogs $20/night; morrobaybeachbungalow.com.
Eat: Giovanni's Fish Market has a walk-up order window, picnic tables that look out on the bay, and, most important, huge portions of crispy, surprisingly light fish and chips. 1001 Front St.; 805/772-2123.
Los Angeles, CA
Play: Spot celebrities--Charlize Theron and Jake Gyllenhaal are among those who've been seen here with their mutts--at Runyon Canyon, a 168-acre park in the Hollywood Hills. There are three main trails and an off-leash area, and on clear days, views stretch from downtown to Palos Verdes to the Pacific. Those major pluses make up for the minuses, which include tough parking and weekend crowds. laparks.org.
If you want to hit the ultimate A-list dog run, head to Laurel Canyon Park (laparks.org)--3 tree-lined acres in the Santa Monica Mountains where pedigreed boxers and poodles mingle off-leash with equally well groomed owners: Orlando Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Reese Witherspoon have been spotted here.
Accessorize your dog in eco-friendly style
Huntington Beach, CA
Play: Dogs vie in hanging 10 and performing other oceanic stunts at the annual September Surf City Surf Dog Contest held in Orange County's surf capital. "Any breed can succeed at dog surfing," says contest organizer Lisa Scolman. "But there are some just built for it, like the English bulldog, with its low center of gravity and great balance." surfcitysurfdog.com.
Coronado Island, CA
Play & stay: Coronado Dog Beach (200 Ocean Blvd.) is a treat for your pet. What's more, your dog can ride the waves every June at the Loew's Surf Dog Competition at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort (from $189; dogs $25 onetime fee; loewshotels.com), 20 minutes south of San Diego. When booking you stay at any time of year, look for pet-friendly packages that cover the pet fee and provide doggy room service as well.
Shop: Wag'n Tails' self-wash area benefits from the store owner's freely admitted fastidiousness: The place is spotless and cleaned between each dog, ideal for a post-surf bath. 945 Orange Ave.; 619/435-3513.
Near Tucson, AZ
Play: Give your dog a break from the heat. Head to the oak-shaded trails of Madera Canyon ($5 per vehicle; fs.fed.us/r3/coronado), 40 miles south of Tucson. In the morning, dog in tow, stroll the 1.8-mile round-trip Bog Springs Trail; it's wildflower-flush during late summer's monsoon season.
Stay: From your deck at Santa Rita Lodge ($25 per night per pet fee; santaritalodge.com), you and Sparky can watch for the canyon's 200 species of birds at dusk. Note that canine visitors must be 25 pounds or smaller.
Colorado Springs, CO
Play: For Rocky Mountain dogs, the 25-acre Bear Creek Dog Park in the foothills west of Colorado Springs is a canine paradise with access to Bear Creek, multiple trails, and a spacious separate area for small dogs. adm.elpasoco.com.
Just because: dog photos.
